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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2311 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
MAURA T. HEALEY
GOVERNOR
KIMBERLY DRISCOLL
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
January 19, 2023
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
I am filing for your consideration a bill entitled "An Act Financing Improvements to
Municipal Roads and Bridges."
This bill authorizes the Commonwealth to borrow $400 million to fund improvements to
municipally owned roads and bridges through Chapter 90 grants over the next two fiscal years.
These grants reach each of our 351 cities and towns directly, continuing the strong tradition of
partnership between the Commonwealth and local communities. I am seeking a two-year
authorization to enable cities and towns sufficient time to put the funds to work given the
planning and coordination required to get these critical projects completed.
Swift passage of this legislation will ensure that the Commonwealth's roads and bridges
can be kept in or moved toward a state of good repair. Accordingly, I urge you to enact this
legislation promptly.
Respectfully submitted,
Maura T. Healey,
Governor 1 of 2
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
finance improvements to the Commonwealth’s transportation system, therefore it is hereby
declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. To provide for a program of transportation development and
2improvements, the sum set forth in section 2 for the several purposes and subject to the
3conditions specified in this act, is hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the
4disbursement of public funds. The sum made available in this act shall be in addition to any
5amounts previously appropriated or made available for these purposes.
6 SECTION 2.
7 MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
8 Highway Division
9 6122-2127. For the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in
10clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws; provided, that 2 of 2
11a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts Department of
12Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further appropriation,
13for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or town under this
14item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the department to the
15city or town not later than March 1 of each year; and provided further, that the commonwealth
16shall reimburse a city or town under this item, subject to the availability of funds as provided in
17section 9G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, within 30 days after receipt by the department of a
18request for reimbursement from the city or town, which request shall include certification by the
19city or town that actual expenses have been incurred on projects eligible for reimbursement
20under this item and that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the city or town
21according to the specifications of the project and in compliance with applicable laws and
22procedures established by the department.................................................................. $400,000,000
23 SECTION 3. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state
24treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an
25amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate,
26$400,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their
27face, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2023, and shall be issued for a
28maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general
29court under section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds
30shall be payable not later than June 30, 2058, pursuant to said section 3 of said Article LXII. All
31interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the
32General Fund. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, bonds issued
33under this section and interest thereon shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.